The Dutch consultation economy in perspective

| Communications | SER: an introduction Holland: man-made land Social dialogue finds its roots in a long tradition of consultation and cooperation Step by step in 100 years much change Netherlands now: top 5 best performing countries

| Communications | SER: an introduction Dutch consultation economy at three levels:  Company level: works councils - Consultation: on important issues for the direction and future of the organisation - Approval: on labour-related issues: working hours, health and safety, etc  Sector/company level: 500 collective labour agreements - Cover 80% of employees - Negotiation of wages and other benefits etc  National level: - Labour Foundation - Social and Economic Council

| Communications | SER: an introduction Social and Economic Council Quick overview  Established 1950 by law Advisory body to government and parliament  Three groups, 33 members: - employers (11) - employees /unions (11) - independent experts (11)  Secretariat of ca. 100 people; policy advisors and facility staff  Financed via Chambers of Commerce

| Communications | SER: an introduction What does the SER do?  Platform function, agendasetting: Organise debate, involve social partners & wider groups in relevant policy issues, sharing of insights  Advisory task: Advising government and parliament on the outlines of social and economic policy  Self regulation: coordination and implementation of common issues (e.g. consumersrights; code of conduct in mergers; international corporate social responsibility CSR)  Execution of specific laws: mainly where it directly relates to the social partners (e.g. work councils)

| Communications | SER: an introduction Shared view on goals Mission statement SER aims to help create social consensus on national and international socio-economic issues: creating common ground Guiding principle: Broad concept of prosperity  Material progress (i.e., increased affluence and production)  Social progress (i.e., improved welfare and social cohesion)  High-quality environment in which to live (i.e., environmental and spatial factors) Three main objectives, explicitly formulated  Economic growth and sustainable development  The highest possible level of employment and participation  A fair distribution of income

| Communications | SER: an introduction Broad agenda Some issues addressed in advisory projects:  Macro-economic state of the Netherlands  Innovation and productivity issues  Social security arrangements  Functioning of the labour market  Labour conditions, health & safety issues  Education, links to labour market  Employee participation  Health care system  European policies  Sustainable development/energy policies ….. Always from a socio-economic angle!

| Communications | SER: an introduction How does the SER work?  Advice: on request or at its own initiative  Preparation in committees (standing or ad hoc)  Common analysis of problems/issues, important groundwork  Involvement of ‘outsiders’, outreach to larger society  Consultation with rank-and-file  Public meetings of the council  Strive for unanimity, but advisory reports may be divided  Duration between 6 months – 1 year, speeding up

| Communications | SER: an introduction Impact, relation to government/politics  Politics in the Netherlands: coalitions always needed Many parties, volatile in election outcomes  SER can foster stability by ‘creating common ground’ Best done by giving unanimous advice: have to deliver! Then highly influential, no formal power Advice is often followed up and implemented  Close relations with government/civil servants ‘Organic’ process, not dropping advice when finished  Pitfalls/criticism: undemocratic? Partial interests? Representative enough?

| Communications | SER: an introduction What are the conditions for success? Social partners wanting to work together & Political will and social acceptance to listen and seek advice More process than structure!  respect for each others’ position  long-term orientation (not just one-off deals)  create an environment of mutual trust  Invest in (personal) relations  stick to agreements, commitment to longer-term agreements with other parties  Hard work, not easy! Only as good as the last advice

| Communications | SER: an introduction